In order to achieve peace for animals we must also look at oursleves – the human being is also an animal after all. Untill we can find peace within, peace for Mother Earth and all her inhabitants will never truly be realized. It is time to look within and make ‘giving back’ a part of our lives; Mother Earth sustains us and we take constantly in order to survive – she provides seeds, a place to grow food, water and sunshine to keep crops healthy. We take these things for granted and have forgotten how to appreciate.

We have also forgotten when we have enough and continue taking and over consuming. So start simple: re-using and recycling are obvious, try also just buying less in the first place. In fact why not get an allotment and grow your own food, it's the obvious way to reduce packaging. When we do shop, use and re-use bags instead of pumping more plastic into landfill sites and into the stomachs of marine life who, having mistaken plastic bags for jellyfish eat them and die. All our actions have an impact on other lives, it's not just about us, it's about all of us, all life.

We need to give something back for all we are given. I watched the garden for an hour today whilst giving a Reiki treatment and the pleasure my giving gave back to me was beautiful; my simple action of providing fresh water and fruit for the birds meant my garden was abundant with life – birds bathing, drinking and eating provided me an inspiring and uplifting sight. So even when we give, Mother Earth still rewards us with her beauty. So make it one of your new year's resolutions to stop taking so much and start giving more.

Wishing us all blessings for a peaceful and compassionate world.

Namaste.